Page 1 of Duel - Widescreen release????

I`ve been looking forward to the DVD release of Duel, scheduled for this August, but all the websites taking pre-orders say that it`s going to be 1.33:1 full screen. Will there be a widescreen edition, as I`m sure it was shown in letterbox on BBC1 last year?

Duel was made for television, so it was shot in 1.33:1. A widescreen version only crops the image.

Check it out at the IMDb: http://us.imdb.com/Technical?0067023

J Mark Oates

This item was edited on Friday, 20th June 2003, 16:38

i was just about to say that myself. it only got a theatrical run in Europe didn`t it?

and i`d ignore any films that the BBC shows. sometimes, such as the Indiana Jones films recently, they took it from the original 2.35.1 ratio (which I will finally see this winter, thanks to DVD!) and made it full screen pan and scan. On the opposite end, they took Back to the Future, and was shown at Christmas in the 2.35.1 ratio for some reason, when it could have been shown in the original 1.85.1. I think they do a similar thing for 24, unless this new series has a bigger ratio than the last one?For some reason TV shows can be shown in Widescreen, but not films!

i apologise if anything is wrong there

I`d like to know when they`ll finally release this movie, they said it would be released 2 years ago. Does anyone know why its been delayed for such along time?

floyd
_______________________________
Bring `em on, I`d prefer a straight fight

Spielberg being a d*ck.

J Mark Oates

Actually, I`d like to see some proof that it actually was cropped to 1.66:1 or 1.85:1 in cinemas in Europe. Chances are, it was mostly shown at 1.37:1. Back in the 70s, 1.85:1 matting wasn`t common in Europe, 1.66:1 was the matting standard - 1.85:1 masking plates were rare outside of America until the early 80s and there is a strong chance that most French, German and perhaps Italian projectionists just let the full 1.37:1 frame be projected through the gate.

Anyway, the correct projection ratio and home-video/TV presentation of DUEL is 1.33-1.37:1 as that is what the film was composed for and intended to be presented at.

To me, showing DUEL at 1.85:1 isn`t any less of a crime as showing CITIZEN KANE or THE WAGES OF FEAR at 1.85:1 - or GONE WITH THE WIND at 2.21:1 70mm as was done in 1967.


Cortez

This item was edited on Sunday, 22nd June 2003, 21:27

Yes

I feel an updated Aspect Ratio masterclass coming on...

J Mark Oates

Yes I`m suprised Chewie hasn`t mentioned aspect ratio, cropping etc ;-) lol

floyd
_______________________________
Bring `em on, I`d prefer a straight fight